In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of daily life. With four young kids, ranging from 2 to 7 years old, I understand the pressure of balancing family, work, and everything in between. But, as I recently realized, being busy can sometimes prevent us from focusing on the most important things, like preparedness for both our personal and professional lives.

While reflecting on a Bible story in Numbers 27 about the daughters of a man who passed away and their battle to claim his assets, it struck me how tough life would be for my family if something happened to me. I realized that my own will, life insurance, and plans for our kids were outdated and incomplete. This made me think about the importance of being prepared—not only for your family’s future but also for your business’s legacy.

Just like preparing for the unexpected in our personal lives, businesses need to ensure their plans are in place for potential IT failures, account hacks, or sudden loss of critical access. It’s essential to ask yourself: Do you have a plan in place for these situations? If not, now is the time to act.

Why the Right Plan Matters

Your business is at risk if critical IT systems aren’t secured with a solid plan for failure. The right approach ensures that you have a roadmap for handling emergencies—whether it’s losing access to an account or facing an IT disaster. The right plan doesn’t just cover you in the short term, but also protects your future and the future of your business, just like preparing your family legacy ensures they’ll be taken care of when you're no longer around.

Key Considerations for Creating a Legacy Plan

1. Estate/Legacy Plans

Having a comprehensive plan for your family is just as vital as having one for your business. If you’re a business owner, make sure you’ve taken the time to update your will, list your beneficiaries, and ensure your children’s caretakers are aware of their responsibilities. Knowing your family is well taken care of will reduce stress and help you focus on your business.

2. Incident Response Plan

Does your business have a detailed incident response plan in place? If something goes wrong—whether it’s a critical system failure or a security breach—what’s the procedure for responding? Your plan should include the following:

• A clear list of those involved and their roles

• Communication protocols

• Procedures for recovery, including manual steps if needed

• Timelines and specific tasks

• Ensuring everyone involved understands and has reviewed the plan

3. Know Where the Passwords Are Stored

What happens if your IT staff suddenly becomes unavailable? How will you access key systems if your passwords are lost or locked away? It’s not uncommon for IT professionals to guard passwords as part of job security, but this can pose a huge risk to your business if they’re unavailable. Ensure your passwords are stored securely, accessible to the right people, and that you have a plan for securing access in an emergency.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Have Your House in Order

Whether at home or in the office, ensuring that everything is taken care of in advance will save you time, money, and headaches later. Update your will, confirm that beneficiaries are correct, and make sure your children’s caretakers are aware of their responsibilities. This planning will allow you to focus on the important work at hand.

2. Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Don’t wait for a system failure to realize you don’t have a response plan. Set up an incident response plan, conduct tabletop exercises, and ensure that everyone involved knows what to do if something goes wrong. Being prepared helps minimize disruption and allows your business to stay on track.

3. Secure Access to Critical Systems

Make sure your passwords are documented securely and that a backup process is in place for accessing your IT systems if needed. This will help you avoid being locked out of critical systems if someone becomes unavailable unexpectedly.

Conclusion

Whether it’s ensuring the future of your family or securing the continuity of your business, planning ahead is essential. As we move into 2025, take the time to ensure that your personal and business legacies are prepared for whatever comes your way. Have a plan, communicate it clearly, and know that taking these proactive steps today will protect your future and your loved ones tomorrow.

By addressing both personal and business preparedness, you can have peace of mind knowing that you’ve laid a solid foundation for your legacy.